Strip applying device

ABSTRACT

A device including two heads which may be positioned at an applying station to apply parallel lengths of elastic reflexlight reflective strip material in an unstretched condition around the circular outer surface of a tire casing rotated past the station. Each head includes a vacuum column which supports a supply length of the strip material adjacent the applying station so that the strip material at the applying station will be under essentially no tension; and a tape drive mechanism which, as the strip material is applied to a tire casing, removes a protective liner from the strip material and drives the strip material toward the vacuum column at a variable rate to maintain a supply length of the strip material in the vacuum column. The device also includes means for sensing the end of the applied length of strip material on the endless surface of the tire casing as it returns toward the applying station, and for severing the strip material in a predetermined position with respect thereto to provide a predetermined overlap of the ends of the strip material around the tire casing.

United States Patent [191 Schultz et al.

[ STRIP APPLYING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Thomas E. Schultz, Roseville;Peter W. Schuchardt, May Twp., both of Minn.

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,Minn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 451,684

[52] US. Cl. 156/394; 152/353; 152/DIG. 12;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,887 l1/l951 Nitchie156/361 2,756,891 7/1956 Hill 156/353 3,354,318 l1/l967 Wahlstrom l242/184 3,382,908 5/1968 Palmquist et a1. 152/353 3,427,215 2/1969Crocker 156/116 3,595,724 7/1971 Leblond 156/405 3,728,181 4/1973Simmons 156/96 3,787,263 l/l974 Yonekawa 156/446 [451 Aug, 12, 1975Primary Examiner-Clifton B. Cosby Assistant Examiner.lohn E. KittleAttorney, Agent, or FirmAlexander, Sell, Steldt & DeLal-lunt ABSTRACT Adevice including two heads which may be positioned at an applyingstation to apply parallel lengths of elastic reflex-light reflectivestrip material in an unstretched condition around the circular outersurface of a tire casing rotated past the station. Each head includes avacuum column which supports a supply length of the strip materialadjacent the applying station so that the strip material at the applyingstation will be under essentially no tension; and a tape drive mechanismwhich, as the strip material is applied to a tire casing, removes aprotective liner from the strip material and drives the strip materialtoward the vacuum column at a variable rate to maintain a supply lengthof the strip material in the vacuum column. The device also includesmeans for sensing the end of the applied length of strip material on theendless surface of the tire casing as it returns toward the applyingstation, and for severing the strip material in a predetermined positionwith respect thereto to provide a predetermined overlap of the ends ofthe strip material around the tire casing.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures -r- UllL PAYENTE mm 2 m5 PATENTEI] AUG 1 2I975 SHEET STRIP APPLYING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to devices for applying strips of material to asurface, and in one aspect to devices for applying strips ofreflex-light reflective material around tire casings.

Tires including reflex-light reflective strips around their sidwalls (astaught in US. Pat. No. 3,382,908) have found particular acceptance foruse on bicycles and motorcycles to provide a measure of safety when thecycle is operated after dark. Such tires are typically constructed byadhering parallel strips of an uncured elastomer (such as neoprenerubber) supporting a layer of reflex-reflective elements to the solventtackified flat outer surface of an unvulcanized tire casing. The tirecasing is then vulcanized in a tire mold to form a completed tire havinga U-shaped cross section tread, brand and size information embossed onits sidewall and the strips permanently incorporated in its sidewalls.

The only known prior art device for applying such strip material to anunvulcanized tire casing is the device illustrated in Drawing No. TR-l75which is available from the Special Enterprises Department of MinnesotaMining and Manufacturing Company, Saint Paul, Minnesota. This deviceincludes two parallel heads each manually movable into engagement with acasing at a fixed applying station defined along means for rotating thetire casing (i.e., a tire building wheel). These heads each include arotatably mounted applying wheel, means for defining a path for a lengthof the strip material from a supply reel along a predetermined path to aportion of the path partially around the periphery of the applyingwheel, and means along the path for separating a protective liner fromthe strip material. A partial vacuum is provided in openings around theperiphery of the applying wheel to aid in tracking the strip materialalong the periphery of the applying wheel, and to support an end of thestrip material thereon when the head is not at the applying station.When the head is manually moved to the applying station, the applyingwheel presses and adheres the strip material against the tire casing sothat movement of the tire casing pulls the strip from the supply rolland applies it around the casing.

While this device is serviceable, it has a potential for stretching theapplied strip material. If such stretching exceeds 3 to 5 percent, itcan cause partial release of the reflex-reflective material and crackingof the strip material when the tire casing is vulcanized. Also anoperator using this device has to manually sever the strip materialafter it is applied around a tire casing, so that obtaining a desiredrelative position between the ends of the applied strip is timeconsuming, tedious, and highly dependent on the care taken by theoperator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a highlyautomated device for applying elastic strip material to a surfacewithout causing any perceptible stretch in the applied strip material.The device is particularly adapted for applying parallel strips ofelastic reflex-light reflective material to tire casings. The deviceprovides precise relative positioning for the ends of strips appliedaround an endless surface which, for a tire casing, will consistentlyprovide a desired appearance for the seam in the strip material afterthe tire is vulcanized.

According to the present invention there is provided a device of thetype previously described for applying a strip of reflex-reflectivematerial to an unvulcanized tire casing. Each head of the deviceincludes a vacuum 5 column which provides means for supporting a U-shaped supply length of the strip material adjacent the applying wheel,and a drive mechanism which, as the strip material is being appliedaround a tire casing,

drives the strip material toward the vacuum column at 0 a variable rateto maintain a supply length of the strip material in the vacuum column.Thus the tension required to move the strip material under the applyingwheel is little more than that required to move the U shaped supplylength in the vacuum column, so that no perceptible stretch isintroduced in the applied strip material.

In the device according to the present invention, the means forseparating the protective liner from the strip material and the drivemechanism are partially combined, and have a novel design which providespositive separation by driving the strip material and liner both beforeand after separation while providing means for restricting theaccumulation of slack in either the strip material or liner between thepoints of driving engagement.

Also the device includes means for sensing the end of the strip materialon the endless surface of the tire casing as it returns toward theapplying station, and for severing the strip at a predetermined positionwith respect thereto to provide a predetermined relationship between theends of the strip independent of the length of the applied strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention will be furtherdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein likenumbers refer to like parts in the several views, and

wherein:

40 FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of a device according to the presentinvention, illustrated with its strip applying heads separated from atire casing mounted on the device;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the device of FIG. 1,illustrated with the strip applying heads in an applying positionpressing strips of material against the tire casing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section of thedevice of FIG. 1, illustrated with the head in a position at which stripmaterial applied around a tire casing is severed from the supply ofstrip material on the device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately along line 55of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximatelyalong line 66 of FIG. 2 illustrating an indexingmechanism in a normalposition, and illustrating in phantom a drive mechanism for the devicewhich is located to the right of line 66 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximatelyalong line 6-6 of FIG. 2, illustrating the indexing mechanism in acut-off position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tire casing having a strip materialapplied thereto by the machine of FIG.

l; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximatelyalong line 99 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingthere is illustrated a device or machine according to the presentinvention generally designated by the numeral 10.

The device 10 includes means for driving an unvulcanized tire casing 11past an applying station 12, and first and second spaced strip applyingheads 13 and 14 adapted for applying spaced lengths of reflex-reflectivestrip material 15 to the tire casing 11 at the applying station 12.

As illustrated the tire casing 11 to which the strip material 15 isapplied is an unvulcanized bicycle tire, comprising a continuousbelt-like length of tire cord and natural rubber, having at each edge aninwardly projecting bead and a generally flat continuous outer surface17 which will be formed into the tread and sidewals of the bicycle tirein the vulcanizing process. The casing 11 is supported on atire-building wheel 19 of a well known type, which has a groove aroundits periphery adapted to receive and support the tire casing l 1 in ataut condition. An over center mechanism operated by a'handle 21 fixedto a relatively rotatable collar 22 at the hub of the tire buildingwheel 19 can be released by rotating the handle 21 to pivot an arm 23about pins 24 and pull a section 25 of the rim of the wheel 19 about apin toward the center of the wheel 19. This allows a second section 26of the rim of the wheel 19 normally supported by the first section toswing toward the center of the wheel 19 about a pin 27. Such movement ofthe sections 25 and 26 allows a tire casing to be placed on or removedfrom the wheel 19.

The tire building wheel 19 is rotatably mounted via a shaft 30 on aframe 31 for the machine 10, and may be rotated by a variable speed gearreduced main drive motor 32 coupled to the shaft 30 by a chain andsprocket drive 33 and a pneumatic clutch 34. While the tire buildingwheel 19 is illustrated as means for supporting a tire for movement pastthe applying station, a tire builder of the commercially available Mono-Band type (i.e., two spaced axially parallel wheels between which thetire is tensioned) could also be used to perform this function.

The strip applying heads 13 and 14 are each mounted on a frame portion35 for pivotal motion on a shaft 36 between a loading position spacedfrom the tire casing 11 on the wheel 19, and an applying position withan applying wheel 38 pressing the strip into engagement with the casing11. The weight of the heads 13 and 14 provides means for biasing themtoward their applying positions, and an air operated cylinder 39operated by control means, as will later be explained, is pivotallymounted between each head 13 or 14 and the frame portion 35 to providemeans for moving the head 13 or 14 to its loading position.

The contact points of the strips of material on the applying wheels 38with respect to the tire building wheel 19 are adjustable by meansincluding a first adjustment device which may be operated by rotating acrank 40 to move the frame portion 35, the shaft 36, and both stripapplying heads 13 and 14 axially of the tire building wheel 19; and asecond adjustment drive in the shaft 36 about which the strip applyingheads 13 and 14 are pivoted. The second adjustment drive is operated byrotating a crank 41 which will a jusl the spacing between the stripapplying heads 13 and 14 by moving the second head 14 axially of thetire building wheel 19 relative to the first head 13. Additionally, theposition of the frame portion 35 may be adjusted vertically to changethe position of the applying station 12 around the periphery of the tirebuilding wheel 19 by releasing a clamping collar 42 and sliding it on acolumn 43; the collar 42 and column 43 being of the type conventionallyused to adjust the work table on a drill press.

As is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 9, the first adjusting device includes ahollow cylinder 151 on one end of which are fixed spaced side plates 152included in the frame portion 35. The opposite end of the cylinder ismounted via bearings 154 in the collar 42 for axial sliding motion in adirection axially parallel with the shaft 30. The crank 40 is fixed atone end of a shaft 156 rotatably mounted at the center of the cylinder150, and restrained against axial movement relative thereto. The shaft156 has a threaded end opposite the crank 40 in engagement with a nut158 fixed in the collar 42 so that rotation of the crank 40 in eitherdirection will produce movement of the frame portion 35 and both stripapplying heads 13 and 14 axially of the tire building wheel 19.

The second adjusting device, best seen in FIG. 9, includes the shaft 36which is rotatably mounted by bearings 160 within the side plates 152.The second strip applying head 14 includes a collar 162 axially slidablealong the shaft 36 but fixed against rotation relative thereto by ablock 164 extending inwardly through an axial slot in the wall of theshaft 36. A nut 166 is attached to the block 164 and a rod 168 coaxiallypositioned within the shaft 36 has one end in threaded engagementthrough the nut 166. The crank 41 is fixed on the opposite end of therod 168 and the rod 168 is restrained against axial movement. Thus'rotation of the crank 41 will produce movement of the nut 166 and thusthe second strip applying head 14 axially along the shaft 36, while inany of its possible positions axially of the shaft 36 the second stripapplying head 14 may be rotated with the shaft 36 within the bearings160. The first strip applying head 13 is rotatable on bearings 170 aboutthe shaft 36. The bearings 170 are in a fixed location axially of theshaft 36, so that rotation of the crank 41 provides movement of thesecond strip applying head 14 relative to the first strip applying head13.

The strip applying heads are arranged as mirror images of each otherexcept for their manner of mounting around the shaft 36 as has alreadybeen described.

As is best seen in FIG. 3, each strip applying head 13 or 14 includes arigid support member or plate 45, means for defining a path for thestrip material 15 along the plate 45 including a predetermined pathportion relative to the plate 45 defined partially around the peripheryof the applying wheel 38, and means along the path for separating aprotective liner 46 from the strip material 15 and for limiting thetension in the strip material 15 at the applying station 12.

For each strip applying head 13 or 14, the machine 10 includes a reel 47for supporting a supply length of the strip material 15 to which isadhered the protective liner 46, and flanged, rotatable guide rollers 48which guide the strip material 15 and adhered liner 46 from the reel 47onto the head 13 or 14. On each strip applying head 13 or 14 the stripmaterial 15 and adhered liner 46 extend along a path defined by a seriesof flanged rotatable guide rollers 49 and the nip between a pair ofrollers 51 and 52. Each of the rollers 51 and 52 is individually drivenby a motor 53 through a gear train in the frame (not shown) to provide aportion of drive means for advancing the strip material along the path.At the nipping rollers 51 and 52 the liner 46 is separated from thestrip material and extends around the periphery of the second nippingroller 52, under an idler roller 57 and into a liner discharge tube 58.A jet of air is directed from a pipe 59 through the discharge tube 58 toprovide a light constant tension on the separated liner 46, and todischarge the liner 46 from an outlet end of the tube 58. From the nipbetween the rollers 51 and 52 the strip material 15 extends partiallyaround the periphery of the first nipping roller 51 and under an idlerroller 61, after which a U- shaped supply length of the strip material15 extends into a chamber 63 in a vacuum column 64. From the chamber 63the strip material 15 extends along a pivotal guide shoe 66 and the pathportion relative to the plate 45 along the periphery of the applyingwheel 38.

The means for limiting the tension in the strip material 15 at theapplying station 12 includes a control means for the motor 53 which isresponsive to the position of a U-shaped supply length of strip material15 and operates the motor 53 at a rate sufficient to maintain a U-shapedsupply length of the strip material 15 within the chamber 63 while thestrip material 15 is being applied to a tire casing.

The chamber 63 in the vacuum column 64 has an open end 68 through whichthe U-shaped supply length of strip material projects into the chamber63, an opposite closed end 69, and a width such that a Ushaped supplylength of strip material 15 will form a loose fitting air seal betweenits open and closed ends 68 and 69. The closed end 69 of the chamber 63communicates through a tube 70 with the intake side of a motor 71 drivenregulated vacuum pump 72 to create a sub atomspheric pressure at theclosed end 69 of the chamber 63 so that atmospheric pressure willsupport the U- shaped supply length of strip material 15 in the chamber63. One side wall of the vacuum column 64 is transparent to allow anoperator to view the position of a supply length of strip material 15therein. A plurality of photoelectric sensors 74 are spaced along oneedge wall of the vacuum column 64 each opposite a light source. AU-shaped supply length of strip material in the chamber 63 will blocklight from a number of the sensors 74, which number depends on thelength of the U-shaped supply length. The control means for the stripdrive motor 53 is a conventional summing circuit which increases thedriving speed of the strip drive motor 53 when an increasing number ofthe sensors 74 are activated by receiving light, thus maintaining asupply length of the strip material 15 in the vacuum column 64 fromwhich strip material 15 can be removed with a very light tension at theapplying wheel 38.

The means for driving the strip material along the path and forseparating the liner from the strip material provide driving engagementwith the strip material 15' and liner 46 both before and afterseparation to insure such separation even when the liner 46 is stronglyadhered to the strip material 15, and includes means for restricting theaccumulation of slack in either the strip material 15 or .liner 46between the points of driving engagement.

The roller 51 has a cylindrical peripheral surface. The roller 52 hascylindrical peripheral surface portions 77 which when positioned at thenip between the rollers 51 and 52, afford driving contact of the rollers51 and 52 on the opposite surfaces of the lined strip material 46/15.The idler roller 61 is spring biased to press the strip material 15against the roller 51 and provide driving contact therebetween, and theroller 57 is spring biased and spaced from the circular peripheralsurface portions 77 of the roller 52 to press the liner 46 into drivingengagement therewith. The roller 52 is formed with two flattedperipheral surface portions 78 disposed at an angle to each other suchthat at one position to which the roller 52 can be rotated (called anadjust position herein) one flatted surface portion 78 will be at thenip between the rollers 51 and 52 while the other flatted surfaceportion 78 will be adjacent the idler roller 57.

When one of the flatted surface portions 78 is at the nip between therollers 51 and 52, the lined strip material 46/15 can slip relative tothe rollers 51 and 52 under the influence of tension in the supplylength of strip material from the reel 47. The movement of the idlerroller 57 toward the drive roller 52 is limited so that when one of theflatted surface portions 78 of the drive roller 52 is adjacent thereto,the liner may slide longitudinally through the nip therebetween. Thus asthe roller 52 is driven past the adjust position, the strip material 15is driven at the idler roller 61 while the lined strip material 46/l5and liner 46 can slip to remove slack in the liner 46 and strip material15 on the rollers 51 and 52. The aforementioned flatted configuration ofthe roller 52 has been found to relieve a problem of slack accumulation,(particularly in the strip material 15) which occurred in the stripmaterial 15 and liner 46 between the idler rollers 61 and 57 and nipbetween the rollers 51 and 52 when a circular roller was used in placeof the roller 52. Such slack accumulation prevented positive separationof the liner 46 and strip material 46 and eventually jammed the drivemechansim.

Each tape applying head 13 or 14 also includes vacuum means which, whenthe head 13 or 14 is at its loading position separated from a tirecasing on the tire building wheel 19, will support the end of the stripmaterial at a predetermined position along the periphery of the wheel sothat the end will be pressed against the tire casing when the head 13 or14 is moved to its applying position; and means for restricting movementof the end of the strip material along the path when the head 13 or 14is not in its applying position.

The guide shoe 66 is mounted on a pin 79 for pivotal motion between arelease position closely spaced from the applying wheel to affordmovement of the strip material therebetween and to guide the stripmaterial onto the wheel; and a clamping position clamping the stripmaterial against the applying wheel 38 to prevent movement thereof. Aspring return air operated cylinder 76 is coupled between the plate 45and guide shoe 66 is operable by the control system of the device 10 tomove the guide shoe 66 between its release and clamping positions.

As is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 5, the applying wheel 38 has aplurality of spaced radial openings 80 through its periphery. The wheelis rotatably mounted by bearings 81 on a hub 82 having vacuumpassageways 83 which communicate between a tube 85 connected to theinlet side of the vacuum pump 72 and those radial openings 80 in theapplying wheel 38 which are adjacent the path portion for the stripmaterial 15 along the periphery of the applying wheel 38. Thus when thestrip applying head 13 or 14 is separated from a tire casing the end ofthe strip material 15 which projects beyond the guide shoe 66 will besupported by atmospheric air pressure along the periphery of theapplying wheel 38 in a proper position for subsequent engagement with atire casing on the wheel 19.

The hub 82 is also formed with pressure passageways 86 which communicatebetween an air line 87 coupled to a source of air under pressure (notshown) and certain radial openings 80 in the applying wheel 38 which areadjacent a circumferential portion of the hub 82 spaced from the pathportion for the strip material 15. During operation of the device theair under pressure will be expelled through the openings 80 as theyrotate past the pressure passageways 86 so that foreign objects, such astalc powder or detackifying agents used in the manufacturing of tires,will be expelled from the openings. This insures that the openings 80will not become clogged and allow the end of the strip material to dropway from the path portion along the periphery of the applying wheel 38when the head 13 or 14 is separated from a tire casing.

The device 10 also includes novel means for sensing the ends of theapplied lengths of strip material on a tire casing as they return towardthe applying station 12 and for severing the strip material 15 in apredetermined position with respect to the applying station 12 toprovide a predetermined relationship between the ends of the lengths ofstrip material 15 applied around the tire casing. This means includesmeans for stopping rotation of the tire building wheel 19 when the endof the strip material 15 is sensed, indexing means for subsequentlyadvancing the tire building wheel 19 a precise predetermined amount, anda severing means for then severing the strip material 15 at apredetermined position with respect to the applying station 12.

A photoelectric sensor 90 is mounted on the first strip applying head 13in a position so that the end of a strip of material adhered to a tirecasing will pass adjacent the sensor 90 as the end of the strip material15 is rotated back toward the applying station 12. Upon receipt of asignal that the end of the strip material 15 applied to a tire casinghas passed adjacent the sensor 90, the control system for the machinedeactivates the pneumatic clutch 34 to disconnect the motor 32 from thetire building wheel 19, and actuates a first disk brake assembly 91 forinstantly stopping rotation of the tire building wheel 19. The firstdisk brake assembly 91 is of a conventional type, including a circularplate 92 coaxially attached to the drive shaft 30 for the tire buildingwheel 19, with an edge portion of the plate 92 positioned in the jaws ofan air pressure actuated spring return clamping mechanism 93 mounted onthe frame 31. The clamping mechanism 93 may be actuated to frictionallyengage and stop movement of the plate 92 and thus the tire buildingwheel 19.

As is best seen in FIG. 6 the indexing means includes a second diskbrake assembly 94 coupled to the shaft 30 via a sprocket 95 rotatablymounted on the frame 31, a sprocket 96 fixed to the shaft 30, and aroller chain 97 including first and second lengths of chain 98 and 99extending between the sprockets 95 and 96. The second disk brakeassembly 94 is similar to the first brake assembly 91, and includes acircular plate 100 coaxially fixed to the sprocket and'having a portionof the plate positioned in the jaws of an air pressure actuated springreturn clamping mechanism 101 mounted on the frame 31. After the sensorhas detected the end of the strip material 15 and the control system hasactivated the first disk brake assembly 91 and uncoupled the pneumaticclutch 34, the control circuit releases the first disk brake assembly 91while activating the second disk brake assembly 94. The control systemthen activates an advancing mechanism for lengthening the first lengthof chain 98 by a predetermined amount while shortening the second lengthof chain 99 so that the sprocket 96, tire building wheel 19, and thetire casing on the tire building wheel 19 is rotated through apredetermined angle to a position at which the strip material 15 issevered by the severing means.

The first and second lengths of chain 98 and 99 are spaced by the outerperipheries of a pair of spacing idler sprockets 105 and 106 rotatablymounted on a plate 107 rigidly supported on the frame 31. The lengths ofchain 98 and 99 also pass between the adjacent peripheral surfaces of atensioning sprocket 108 and an adjusting sprocket 109, which adjacentsurfaces are spaced by a distance about half the distance between theouter surface of the idler sprockets 105 and An arm 112 is pivotallymounted on the frame 31 at a pin 113 and rotatably supports thetensioning sprocket 109 at its end opposite the pin 113. The arm 112 isbiased in a direction to press the tensioning sprocket 109 intoengagement with the second length of chain 99 by a constant force meanscomprising an air cylinder 1 15 which has its piston and housingpivotably attached at pins 118 between the frame 31 and the arm 112, andpressurized to bias its piston outwardly by a source of air under aconstant regulated pressure. The adjusting sprocket 108 is rotatablymounted on an adjusting frame 120 slidably mounted in slots 121 on theplate 107 for movement from a normal position (FIG. 6) with the innerperiphery of the adjusting sprocket 108 allowing a portion of the firstlength of chain 98 between the sprockets 96 and 105 to form a generallystraight line; toward the second length of chain 99 to a cut-offposition (FIG. 7) so that the adjusting sprocket 108 causes the portionof the length of chain 98 between the sprockets 96 and 105 to formaround the sprocket 108 and a portion of the length of chain 99 betweenthe sprockets 106 and 96 (which was previously formed around thesprocket 109) to straighten as the tensioning sprocket 109 moves withthe adusting sprocket 108 to maintain a constant tension in the chain97. Because the sprocket 95 is locked in place by the second disk brakemeans, such movement causes links in the second length of chain 99 tomove toward the first length of chain 98 around the sprocket 96, therebyrotating the tire building wheel 19 a distance dependent on themagnitude of the movement of the adjusting sprocket 108 from its normalposition.

Movement of the adjusting sprocket 108 from its normal position isprovided by means including a nut 124 mounted on the frame, and a leadscrew 125 threadably engaged in the nut 124. The lead screw 125 isrotatably mounted on the frame 31 by a bearing 126 which prevents axialmovement thereof, and is coupled by a chain and sprocket assembly 127 toa reversible stepping motor 128 mounted on the frame 31. Rotation of themotor 128 for a predetermined number of revolutions will move theadjusting sprocket 108 a predetermined distance, and the control circuitincludes means for pre-setting the number of revolutions which the motor128 will be operated upon activation thereof.

The severing means for severing the strip material includes means forseparating the applying wheel 38 from a tire casing on the tire buildingwheel 19 by a predetermined amount to provide a short length ofunsupported strip material therebetween, and an electrically heatedU-shaped blade 130 to melt through said short length of strip material.

The means for separating the applying wheel includes, for each head 13or 14, a short air cylinder 138 mounted on the head 13 or 14 by a pin139. The air cylinder 138 is positioned so that as its piston 139 isextended, it will contact a bar fastened between the side plates 152 ofthe frame portion 35 and rotate the head 13 or 14 through apredetermined angle in a direction to separate the applying wheel 38from the tire casing 11 on the tire building wheel 19. Such separationprovides the aforementioned short length of strip material which extendsbetween the tire casing and the guide shoe 66 (the shoe 66 being clampedagainst the applying wheel 38 by the control system when the applyinghead 13 or 14 is separated from the tire casing).

The blade 130 is mounted on a support 131 rotatable about the hub 82 ona bearing (FIG. between a storage position, spaced from the short lengthof strip material (FIG. 3), and a severing position (FIG. 4) with theblade contacting the short length of strip material. An air cylinder 133pivotably connected at pins 134 between the support 131 and the frameportion 35 is operable by the control system to provide movement of theblade 130 between its storage and severing positions, and electricalpower is supplied to the blade 13 through a pair of flexible electricalcables 136.

OPERATION The operation of the device to apply parallel strips ofreflex-reflective strip material to a tire casing 11 will now bedescribed. Initially the strip applying heads 13 and 14 are in theirloading positions. The operator releases the over center device whichsupports the pivotal sections 25 and 26 of the rim of the tire buildingwheel 19 by rotating the handle 21. He then positions an unvulcanizedtire casing 11 around the tire building wheel 19, repositions the rimsection 26 and returns the handle 21 to its locked position to press thesection 25 against the section 26 and tension the tire casing 11 aboutthe wheel 19. If necessary, for each strip applying head 13 or 14 theoperator threads an end of the strip material from a supply coil placedon the reel 47 along the path defined by the rollers 48 and 49 andbetween a pair of nipping rollers 51 and 52. At the nipping rollers 51and 52 a protective liner 46 on the strip material 15 is separated andthreaded around the roller 52, under the roller 57 and into thedischarge tube 58. The strip material is threaded around the roller 51and under the roller 61, and a U-shaped supply length of the stripmaterial 15 is positioned in the chamber 63 of a vacuum column 64. Theend of the strip material 15 is threaded between the guide shoe 66 andthe wheel (which shoe 66 is air biased to clamp the strip against thewheel 38) to project from the shoe 66 so that it will be supported onthe periphery of the applying wheel 38 10 via a vacuum acting throughopenings in its periphery.

The operator then activates the device 10 by pressing a start button 140in the control system. The control system releases pressure in the aircylinders 39 to allow the weight of the strip applying heads 13 and 14to rotate them to their applying position with the applying wheels 38pressing the ends of the lengths of strip material 15 against the tirecasing 11. The control system then allows movement of the shoe 66 to itsrelease position so that the strip material can move between the shoeand the applying wheel 38, and activates the pneumatic clutch 34 toengage the already energized main drive motor 32 with the tire buildingwheel 19. As the tire building wheel 19 rotates, the strip material 15is pulled under each of the applying wheels 38. The sensors 74 in eachof the vacuum columns 64 provide a signal to cause operation of theassociated strip drive motor 53 to propel the strip material toward thevacuum column 64 at a rate sufficient to maintain a supply length in thecolumn 64, thus insuring a minimal tension in the lengths of stripmaterial 15 under the applying wheels 38.

As each strip drive motor 53 drives the strip material via the rollers51 and 52, slack in the strip material 15 from the nip between therollers 51 and 52 to the nip between the rollers 51 and 61 and slack inthe liner 46 between the rollers 52 and 57 is removed by tension in thesupply of lined strip material 46/ l 5 from the reel 47 when theflattened surface portions 78 of the roller 52 are positioned adjacentthe rollers 51 and 57.

When the sensor signals that the ends of the strips are being rotatedback toward the applying station 12, the control system deactivates thepneumatic clutch 34 and activates the first disk brake mechanism 91 toinstantly stop rotation of the tire building wheel 19. The first diskbrake mechanism 91 is then released as the second disk brake mechanism94 is activated. Next the stepping motor 128 is activated for a pre-setnumber of revolutions so that via the lead screw and nut 124, theadjusting sprocket 108 moves a predetermined distance toward the secondlength of chain 99 to shorten the same and lengthen the first length ofchain 98, thereby rotating the tire building wheel 19 through apredetermined angle. During such movement of the adjusting sprocket 108,the tensioning sprocket 109 moves in the same direction as the adjustingsprocket 108 against the constant bias of the air cylinder 115 toprovide a uniform tension in the chain 97.

After the tire building wheel 19 has rotated through the predeterminedangle by the motor 128, the control system actuates the air cylinder 76to move the guide shoe 66 to its clamping position, activates the aircylinder 138 to raise the applying wheels 38 a predetermined distancefrom the tire casing 11, and activates the air cylinder 133 to rotatethe heated blade to its severing position to melt through thepredetermined length of strip material between the guide shoe 66 and thetire casing 11. Subsequently the control system operates the motor 128to return the adjusting sprocket 108 to its normal position, releasesthe second disk brake mechanism 94, and actuates the cylinders 39 toraise the strip applying heads 13 and 14 to their loading positions sothat the operator can operate the handle 21 to remove the striped tirecasing from the tire building wheel 19. The device is then in a readycondition with the strip material 15 properly positioned on the 1 1paths along the strip applying heads for application thereof to a newtire casing positioned on the tire building wheel 19.

We claim:

1. In a device adapted for adhesively applying lengths of elasticreflex-reflective strip material to tire casings from a supply of thestrip material having a protective liner applied thereto, said devicecomprising means adapted for driving a said tire casing past an applyingstation; an applying head including a frame, an applying wheel rotatablymounted on said frame, and means for defining a path for said stripmaterial along said frame including a predetermined arcuate path portionrelative to said frame defined partially around said applying wheel;liner stripping means for stripping the liner from the strip materialalong said path in advance of said applying wheel; and means formounting said applying head at an applying position with said wheelpressing tape along said path portion against the tire casing at saidapplying station to apply strip material as the tire casing is drivenpast the applying station, the improvement wherein said device includes:

a vacuum column defining a portion of said path adjacent said applyingwheel, said vacuum column having a chamber with open and closed endsadapted for receiving a U-shaped supply length of said strip materialthrough said open end to form a loose fitting air seal between said openand closed ends;

means for providing air under less than atmospheric pressure at theclosed end in said chamber to support the U-shaped length therein;

sensing means along said chamber for sensing the position of saidU-shaped length of strip material within said chamber;

strip drive means along said path and in driving engagement with saidstrip material prior to said vacuum column for driving said strip alongsaid path; and

control means connected to said sensing and strip drive means andresponsive to the position of said U-shaped length of strip material insaid vacuum column for operating said strip drive means to maintain aU-shaped supply length of material in said chamber as strip material isapplied around a tire casing;

said liner stripping means and said strip drive means comprising:

a first roller having a cylindrical peripheral surface about an axis;

a second roller having cylindrical peripheral surface portions about anaxis and at least two flatted peripheral surface portions, said firstand second rollers being in an axially parallel relationship with a niptherebetween defining a portion of said path with the liner on the stripmaterial adjacent the second roller, and being spaced to provide drivingengagement on opposite surfaces of said lined strip material positionedin said nip when one of said circular peripheral surface portions is atsaid nip, said flatted peripheral surface portions affording movement ofthe strip material relative to the periphery of the rollers when one ofsaid flatted peripheral surface portions is at said nip;

means for individually driving said first and second rollers in oppositerotational directions to propel strip material in said nip toward saidvacuum column when one of said cylindrical peripheral surface portionsis at said nip;

means for pressing the separated strip material into continuous drivingengagement with the periphery of said first roller at a position spacedaround the periphery thereof from said nip; and

an idler roller spaced around the periphery of said second roller fromsaid nip and spaced from said second roller to provide drivingengagement with said liner therebetween when one of said circularperipheral surface portions is adjacent said idler roller and to affordmovement of the liner relative to said second roller when one of saidflatted peripheral surface portions is opposite said idler roller, saidflatted peripheral surface portions on said second roller being spacedso that at an adjust position of said second roller during eachrevolution thereof, one flatted peripheral surface portion is at the nipbetween said first and second rollers, while the other flattedperipheral surface portion is opposite said idler roller so that thedrive means will provide said means for stripping the liner from thestrip material when the lined strip material is fed through the nipbetween the driven first and second rollers with the strip material thenextending along the periphery of the first roller to said pressing meansand the liner extending along the periphery of the second roller to theidler roller, and any slack accumulated in the strip material and lineron the peripheries of the first and second rollers will be removed byslippage caused from tension in the supply length when said secondroller rotates through said adjust position.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for driving thetire casing moves the tire casing in a path extending around the axis ofthe tire casing past the applying station; and the device includessensing means for sensing the applied end of the strip material as it ismoved back toward the applying station, means for stopping the movementof the tire casing with said end in a predetermined position relative tosaid applying station, and means for severing the strip material at apredetermined position relative to the 'applying head to provide ends onthe applied strip material having a predetermined position relationship.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving a saidtire casing past the applying station includes support means supportingsaid tire casing for movement past said applying station, main drivemeans for driving said support means, first brake means operable forstopping movement of said support means, a second brake assemblycomprising a rotatable member and a second brake means for stoppingmovement of said rotatable member, a chain in driving engagement betweensaid rotatable member and said support means to provide first and secondlengths of chain tensioned therebetween, means for lengthening saidfirst length of chain and shortening said second length of chain, andcontrol meansfor sequentially l deactivating said main drive means andoperating said first brake means to stop movement of said support means;(2) releasing said first brake means and applying said second brakemeans to prevent movement of said rotatable member; and (3) operatingsaid means for lengthening said first length of chainby a predeterminedamount to move chain from said second length of chain toward said firstlength of chain about said support means, thereby moving said supportmeans by a predetermined amount and with said first brake means,providing said means for stopping movement of the tire casing with saidend in a predetermined position.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said applying wheel is formedwith openings through tts periphery adapted to communicate with stripmaterial therealong, said device includes means for providing air underless than atmospheric pressure in said openings in the portion of saidperipheral surface adjacent said path portion to support said stripmaterial along said path portion, and means for applying an underpressure through said openings in a portion of said peripheral surfacespaced from said path portion to clean foreign material from saidopenings.

5. In a device adapted for adhesively supplying lengths of elasticreflex-reflective strip material to tire casings from a supply of thestrip material having a protective liner applied thereto, said devicecomprising means adapted for driving a said tire casing past an applyingstation; an applying head including a frame, an applying wheel rotatablymounted on said frame, and means for defining a path for said stripmaterial along said frame including a predetermined arcuate path portionrelative to said frame defined partially around said applying wheel;liner stripping means for stripping the liner from the strip materialalong said path in advance of said applying wheel; and means formounting said applying head at an applying position with said wheelpressing tape along said path portion against the tire casing at saidapplying station to apply strip material as the tire casing is drivenpast the applying station, the improvement wherein said device includes:

supporting means for supporting a supply length of said strip materialadjacent said applying wheel under essentially no tension;

sensing means along said path for sensing the position of said supplylength of strip material;

strip drive means along said path and in driving engagement with saidstrip material prior to said supporting means for driving said stripmaterial along said path; and

control means connected to said sensing means and said strip drive meansand responsive to the position of said supply length of strip materialfor operating said drive means to maintain said supply length of stripmaterial adjacent said applying wheel as strip material is appliedaround a tire cassaid liner stripping means and said strip drive meanscomprising:

a first roller having a cylindrical peripheral surface about an axis;

a second roller having cylindrical peripheral surface portions about anaxis and at least two flatted peripheral surface portions, said firstand second rollers being in an axially parallel relationship with a niptherebetween defining a'fiiortion of said path with the liner on thestrip material adjacent the second roller, and being spaced to providedriving engagement on opposite surfaces of said lined strip materialpositioned in said nip when one of said circular peripheral surfaceportions is at said nip, said flatted peripheral surface portionsaffording movement of the strip material relative to the periphery ofthe rollers when one of said flatted peripheral surface portions is atsaid nip; means for individually driving said first and second rollersin opposite rotational directions to propel strip material in said niptoward said vacuum column when one of said cylindrical peripheral sur- Iface portions is at said nip; means for pressing the separated stripmaterial into continuous driving engagement with the periphery of saidfirst roller at a position spaced around the periphery thereof from saidnip; and an idler roller spaced around the periphery of said secondroller from said nip and spaced from said second roller to providedriving engagement with said liner therebetween when one of saidcircular peripheral surface portions is adjacent said idler roller andto afford movement of the liner relative to said second roller when oneof said flatted peripheral surface portions is opposite said idlerroller, said flatted peripheral surface portions on said second rollerbeing spaced so that at an adjust position of said second roller duringeach revolution thereof, one flatted peripheral surface portion is atthe nip between said first and second rollers, while the other flattedperipheral surface portion is opposite said idler roller so that thedrive means will provide said means for stripping the liner from thestrip material when the lined strip material is fed through the nipbetween the driven first and second rollers with the strip material thenextending along the periphery of the first roller to said pressing meansand the liner extending along the periphery of the second roller to theidler roller, and any slack accumulated in the strip material and lineron the peripheries of the first and second rollers will be removed byslippage caused from tension in the supply length when said secondroller rotates through said adjust position. 6. A device according toclaim 5, wherein said means for driving the tire casing moves the tirecasing in a path extending around the axis of the tire casing past theapplying station; and the device includes sensing means for sensing theapplied end of the strip material as it is moved back toward theapplying station, means for stopping the movement of the tire casingwith said end in a predetermined position relative to said applyingstation, and means for severing the strip material at a predeterminedposition relative to the applying head to provide ends on the appliedstrip material having a predetermined position relationship. I

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said means for driving a saidtire casing past the applying station includes support means supportingsaid tire casing for movement past said applying station, main drivemeans for driving said support means, first brake means operable forstopping movement of said support means, a second brake assemblycomprising a rotatable member and a second brake means for stoppingmovement of said rotatable member, a chain in driving engagement betweensaid rotatable member and said support means to provide first and secondlengths of chain tensioned therebetween, means for lengthening saidfirst length of chain and shortening said second length of chain, andcontrol means for sequentially (l) deactivating said main drive meansand operating said first brake means to stop movement of said supportmeans; (2) releasing said first brake means and applying said secondbrake means to prevent movement of said rotatable member; and (3)operating said means for lengthening said first length of chain by apredetermined amount to move chain from said second length of chaintoward first length of chain about said support means, thereby movingsaid support means by a predetermined amount and with said frist brakemeans, providing said means for stopping movement of the tire casingwith said end in a predetermined position.

8. A device according to claim 5, wherein said applying wheel is formedwith openings through its periphery adapted to communicate with stripmaterial therealong, said device includes means for providing air underless than atmospheric pressure in said openings in the portion of saidperipheral surface adjacent said path portion to support said stripmaterial along said path portion, and means for applying an underpressure through said openings in a portion of said peripheral surfacespaced from said path portion to clean foreign material from saidopenings.

9. A device according to claim 5, wherein said device includes twoapplying heads each of the type defined in claim 6, and said means formounting said head mounts each of said heads l for individual pivotalmovement about a pivot axis between a loading position with its applyingwheel spaced from said applying station, and an applying position withits applying wheel positioned to press a strip of material intoengagement with a tire casing at said applying station, and (2) forindependent adjustable movement axially of said pivot axis.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said head mounting meanscomprises a shaft rotatably mounted about said pivot axis, means formounting one of said heads for pivotal movement about and relative tosaid shaft at a position fixed along the axis thereof, means formounting the other of said heads on said shaft for axial movementrelative thereto, means for manually adjusting the axial spacing of saidheads along said shaft, and means for manually adjusting the axialposition of said shaft relative to said means for driving a said tirecasing past said applying station.

* =l =l l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO. 3,899,383

DATED August 12, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Thomas E. Schultz and Peter W.Schuchardt It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 60, after "66" insert and Column 8, line 37, after "and"insert is In the Claims Column 13, line 8, changs "tts" to its Column 14, line 53, change "claim 5" to claim 6 Column 15, line 6, after"toward" insert said and line 9, change "frist" to first Column 16, line3, change "claim 6" to claim 5 Signal and Scaled this second Day ofDecember1975 [SEAL] A (test:

RUTli C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patrmand Trademarks

1. IN A DEVICE ADAPTED FOR ADHESIVELY APPLYING LENGTHS OF ELASTICREFLEX-REFLECTIVE STRIP MATERIAL TO TIRE CASINGS FROM A SUPPLY OF THESTRIP MATERIAL HAVING A PROTECTIVE LINER APPLIED THERETO, SAID DEVICECOMPRISING MEANS ADAPTED FOR DRIVING A SAID TIE ASING PAST AN APPLYINGSTATION, AN APPLYING HEAD INCLUDING A FRAME, AN APPLYING WHEEL ROTATABLYMOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, AND MEANS FOR DEFINING A PATH FOR SAID STRIPMATERIAL ALONG SAID FRAME INCLUDING A PREDETERMINED ARCUATE PATH PORTIONREATIVE TO SAID FRAME DEFINED PARTIALLY AROUND SAID APPLYING WHEEL,LINER STRIPPING MEANS FOR STRIPPING THE LINER FROM THE STRIP MATERIALALONG SAID PATH IN ADVANCE OF SAID APPLYING WHEEL, AND MEANS FORMOUNTING SAID APPLYING HEAD AT AN APPLYING POSITION WITH SAID WHEELPRESSING TAPE ALONG SAID PATH PORTION AGAINST THE TIRE CASING AT SAIDAPPLYING STATION TO APPLY STRIP MATERIAL AS THE TIRE CASING IS DRIVENPAST THE APPLYING STATION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID DEVICE INCLUDES:A VACUUM COLUMN DEFINING A PORTION OF SAID PATH ADJACENT SAID APPLYINGWHEEL, SAID VACUUM COLUMN HAVING A CHAMBER WITH OPEN AND CLOSED ENDSADAPTED FOR RECEIVING A U-SHAPED SUPPLY LENGTH OF SAID STRIP MATERIALTHROUGH SAID OPEN END TO FORM A LOOSE FITTING AIR SEAL BETWEEN SAID OPENAND CLOSED ENDS, MEANS FOR PROVIDING AIR UNDER LESS THAN ATOMSPHERICPRESSURE AT THE CLOSED END IN SAID CHAMBER TO SUPPORT THE U-SHAPEDLENGTH THEREIN, SENSING MEANS ALONG SAID CHAMBER FOR SENSING THEPOSITION OF SAID U-SHAPED LENGTH OF STRIP MATERIAL WITHIN SAID CHAMBER,STRIP DRIVE MEANS ALONG SAID PATH AND IN DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDSTRIP MATERIAL PRIOR TO SAID VACUUM COLUMN FOR DRIVING SAID STRP ALONGSAID PATH, AND CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SENSING AND STRIP DRIVEMEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAID U-SHAPED LENGTH OF STRIPMATERIAL IN SAID VACUUM COLUMN FOR OPERATING SAID STRIP DRIVE MEANS TOMAINTAIN A U-SHAPED SUPPLY LENGTH OF MATERIAL IN SAID CHAMBER AS STRIPMATERIAL IS APPLIED AROUND A TIRE CASING, SAID LINER STRIPPING MEANS ANDSAID STRIP DRIVE MEANS COMPRISING: A FIRST ROLLER HAVING A CYLINDIRCALPERIPHERAL SURFACE ABOUT AN AXIS, A SECOND ROLLER HAVING CYLINDRICALPERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTIONS ABOUT AN AXIS AND AT LEAST TWO FLATTEDPERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTIONS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROLLERS BEING IN ANAXIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH A NIP THEREBETWEEN DEFINING A PORTIONOF SAID PATH WITH THE LINR ON THE STRIP MATERIAL ADJACENT THE SECONDROLLER, AND BEING SPCED TO PROVIDE DRIVING ENGAGEMENT ON OPPOSITESURFACES OF SAID LINED STRIP MATERIAL POSITIONED IN SAID NIP WHEN ONE OFSAID CIRCULAR PERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTIONS IS AT SAID NIP, SAID FLATTEDPERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTIONS AFFORDING MOVEMENT OF THE STRIP MATERIALRELATVE TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE ROLLERS WHEN ONE OF SAID FLATTEDPERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTIONS IS AT SAID NIP, MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALLYDIRIVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROLLERS IN OPPOSITE ROTATION ALDIRECTIONS TO PROPEL STRIO MATERIAL IN SID NIP TOWARD SID VACUUM COLUMNWHEN ONE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTIONS IS AT SAID NIP,MEANS FOR PRESSING THE SEPARATED STRIP MATERIAL INTO CONTINUOUS DRIVINGENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FIRST ROLLER AT A POSITION SPACEDAROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF FROM SAID NIP, AND AN IDLER ROLLER SPACEDAROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SECOND ROLLR FROM SAID NIP AND SPACED FROMSAID SECOND ROLLER TO PROVIDE DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LINERTHEREBETWEEN WHEN ONE OF SAID CIRCULAR PERIPHRAL SURFACE PORTIONS ISADJACENT SAID ISLER ROLLER AND TO AFFORD MOVEMENT OF THE LINER RELATIVETO SAID SECOND ROLLER WHEN ONE OF SAID FLATTED PERIPHERAL SURFACEPORTIONS IS OPPOSITE SAID IDLER ROLLER, SAID FLATTED PERIPHERAL SURFACEPORTIONS ON SAID SECOND ROLLER BEING SPACED SO THAT AT AN ADJUSTPOSITION OF SAID SECOND ROLLER DURING EACH REVOLUTION THEREOF, ONEFLATTED PERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTION IS AT THE NIP BETWEEN SAID FIRST ANDSECOND ROLLERS, WHILE THE OTHER FLATTED PERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTION ISOPPOSITE SAID IDLER ROLLER SO THAT THE DRIVE MEANS WILL PROVIDE SAIDMEANS FOR STRIPPING THE LINER FROM THE STRIP MATERIAL WHEN THE LINEDSTRIP MATERIAL IS FED THROUGH THE NIP BETWEEN THE DRIVEN FIRST ANDSECOND ROLLERS WITH THE STRIP MATERIAL THEN EXTENDING ALONG THEPERIPHERY OF THE FIRST ROLLER RO SAID PRESSING MEANS AND TH LINEREXTENDING ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF THE SECOND ROLLER TO THE IDLER ROLLER,AND ANY SLACK ACCUMULATED IN THE STRIP MATERIAL AND LINER ON THEPERIPHERIES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND ROLLRS WILL BE REMOVED BY SLIPPAGECAUSED FROM TENSION IN THE SUPPLY LENGTH WHEN SAID SECOND ROLLER ROTATESTHROUGH SAID ADJUST POSITION.
 2. A device according to claim 1, whereinsaid means for driving the tire casing moves the tire casing in a pathextending around the axis of the tire casing past the applying station;and the device includes sensing means for sensing the applied end of thestrip material as it is moved back toward the applying station, meansfor stopping the movement of the tire casing with said end in apredetermined position relative to said applying station, and means forsevering the strip material at a predetermined position relative to theapplying head to provide ends on the applied strip material having apredetermined position relationship.
 3. A device according to claim 2,wherein said means for driving a said tire casing past the applyingstation includes support means supporting said tire casing for movementpast said applying station, main drive means for driving said supportmeans, first brake means operable for stopping movement of said supportmeans, a second brake assembly comprising a rotatable member and asecond brake means for stopping movement of said rotatable member, achain in driving engagement between said rotatable member and saidsupport means to provide first and second lengths of chain tensionedtherebetween, means for lengthening said first length of chain andshortening said second length of chain, and control means forsequentially (1) deactivating said main drive means and operating saidfirst brake means to stop movement of said support means; (2) releasingsaid first brake means and applying said second brake means to preventmovement of said rotatable member; and (3) operating said means forlengthening said first length of chain by a predetermined amount to movechain from said second length of chain toward said first length of chainabout said support means, thereby moving said support means by apredetermined amount and with said first brake means, providing saidmeans for stopping movement of the tire casing with said end in apredetermined position.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidapplying wheel is formed with openings through tts periphery adapted tocommunicate with strip material therealong, said device includes meansfor providing air under less than atmospheric pressure in said openingsin the portion of said peripheral surface adjacent said path portion tosupport said strip material along said path portion, and means forapplying an under pressure through said openings in a portion of saidperipheral surface spaced from said path portion to clean foreignmaterial from said openings.
 5. In a device adapted for adhesivelysupplying lengths of elastic reflex-reflective strip material to tirecasings from a supply of the strip material having a protective linerapplied thereto, said device comprising means adapted for driving a saidtire casing past an applying station; an applying head including aframe, an applying wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, and means fordefining a path for said strip material along said frame including apredetermined arcuate path portion relative to said frame definedpartially around said applying wheel; liner stripping means forstripping the liner from the strip material along said path in advanceof said applying wheel; and means for mounting said applying head at anapplying position with said wheel pressing tape along said path portionagainst the tire casing at said applying station to apply strip materialas the tire casing is driven past the applying station, the improvementwherein said device includes: supporting means for supporting a supplylength of said strip material adjacent said applying wheel underessentially no tension; sensing means along said path for sensing theposition of said supply length of strip material; strip drive meansalong said path and in driving engagement with said strip material priorto said supporting means for driving said strip material along saidpath; and control means connected to said sensing means and said stripdrive means and responsive to the position of said supply length ofstrip material for operating said drive means to maintain said supplylength of strip material adjacent said applying wheel as strip materialis applied around a tire casing; said liner stripping means and saidstrip drive means comprising: a first roller having a cylindricalperipheral surface about an axis; a second roller having cylindricalperipheral surface portions about an axis and at least two flattedperipheral surface portions, said first and second rollers being in anaxially parallel relationship with a nip therebetween defining a portionof said path with the liner on the strip material adjacent the secondroller, and being spaced to provide driving engagement on oppositesurfaces of said lined strip material positioned in said nip when one ofsaid circular peripheral surface portions is at said nip, said flattedperipheral surface portions affording movement of the strip materialrelative to the periphery of the rollers when one of said flattedperipheral surface portions is at said nip; means for individuallydriving said first and second rollers in opposite rotational directionsto propel strip material in said nip toward said vacuum column when oneof said cylindrical peripheral surface portions is at said nip; meansfor pressing the separated strip material into continuous drivingengagement with the periphery of said first roller at a position spacedaround the periphery thereof from said nip; and an idler roller spacedaround the periphery of said second roller from said nip and spaced fromsaid second roller to provide driving engagement with said linertherebetween when one of said circular peripheral surface portions isadjacent said idler roller and to afford movement of the liner relativeto said second roller when one of said flatted peripheral surfaceportions is opposite said idler roller, said flatted peripheral surfaceportions on said second roller being spaced so that at an adjustposition of said second roller during each revolution thereof, oneflatted peripheral surface portion is at the nip between said first andsecond rollers, while the other flatted peripheral surface portion isopposite said idler roller so that the drive means will provide saidmeans for stripping the liner from the strip material when the linedstrip material is fed through the nip between the driven first andsecond rollers with the strip material then exteNding along theperiphery of the first roller to said pressing means and the linerextending along the periphery of the second roller to the idler roller,and any slack accumulated in the strip material and liner on theperipheries of the first and second rollers will be removed by slippagecaused from tension in the supply length when said second roller rotatesthrough said adjust position.
 6. A device according to claim 5, whereinsaid means for driving the tire casing moves the tire casing in a pathextending around the axis of the tire casing past the applying station;and the device includes sensing means for sensing the applied end of thestrip material as it is moved back toward the applying station, meansfor stopping the movement of the tire casing with said end in apredetermined position relative to said applying station, and means forsevering the strip material at a predetermined position relative to theapplying head to provide ends on the applied strip material having apredetermined position relationship.
 7. A device according to claim 5,wherein said means for driving a said tire casing past the applyingstation includes support means supporting said tire casing for movementpast said applying station, main drive means for driving said supportmeans, first brake means operable for stopping movement of said supportmeans, a second brake assembly comprising a rotatable member and asecond brake means for stopping movement of said rotatable member, achain in driving engagement between said rotatable member and saidsupport means to provide first and second lengths of chain tensionedtherebetween, means for lengthening said first length of chain andshortening said second length of chain, and control means forsequentially (1) deactivating said main drive means and operating saidfirst brake means to stop movement of said support means; (2) releasingsaid first brake means and applying said second brake means to preventmovement of said rotatable member; and (3) operating said means forlengthening said first length of chain by a predetermined amount to movechain from said second length of chain toward first length of chainabout said support means, thereby moving said support means by apredetermined amount and with said frist brake means, providing saidmeans for stopping movement of the tire casing with said end in apredetermined position.
 8. A device according to claim 5, wherein saidapplying wheel is formed with openings through its periphery adapted tocommunicate with strip material therealong, said device includes meansfor providing air under less than atmospheric pressure in said openingsin the portion of said peripheral surface adjacent said path portion tosupport said strip material along said path portion, and means forapplying an under pressure through said openings in a portion of saidperipheral surface spaced from said path portion to clean foreignmaterial from said openings.
 9. A device according to claim 5, whereinsaid device includes two applying heads each of the type defined inclaim 6, and said means for mounting said head mounts each of said heads(1) for individual pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a loadingposition with its applying wheel spaced from said applying station, andan applying position with its applying wheel positioned to press a stripof material into engagement with a tire casing at said applying station,and (2) for independent adjustable movement axially of said pivot axis.10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said head mounting meanscomprises a shaft rotatably mounted about said pivot axis, means formounting one of said heads for pivotal movement about and relative tosaid shaft at a position fixed along the axis thereof, means formounting the other of said heads on said shaft for axial movementrelative thereto, means for manually adjusting the axial spacing of saidheads along said shaft, and means for manually adjusting the axialpositiOn of said shaft relative to said means for driving a said tirecasing past said applying station.